FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NORTH CHARLESTON. S.C., March, 05. 2010 -

GOOSE CREEK, S.C.– Owing back taxes to the IRS is stressful.  Fortunately, the IRS has programs in place, such as the installment agreement, to help taxpayers get back on track.

When Carol Vagelatos of Bluffton, SC came to JK Harris and Company, the nation’s largest tax representation company, she was frustrated. She was making an honest effort to repay the tax debt she owed and had attempted to negotiate an installment agreement with the IRS. However, she was not successful in getting the monthly installments down to a level she could afford to repay.

An installment agreement is simply a repayment plan where the taxpayer makes monthly payments to the IRS to repay the taxes owed. While the agreement allows the full payment of the tax debt in smaller, more manageable amounts, the downside to the agreement is the taxpayer is still charged interest and penalties. 

“The IRS wanted Mrs. Vagelatos to pay $1,800 a month, an amount she just could not afford,” said Gina Anton, Director of Corporate Communications for JK Harris. “She tried working with them, but when they would not relent, she came to JK Harris for help.”

To negotiate with the IRS to reduce the amount of the monthly payment amount took a lot of time, patience and paperwork to prove a financial need for a lowered payment amount.

“It was a long, hard trip – nearly two years of negotiations on my behalf by my case specialist and licensed taxpayer representative to achieve an agreement I could afford to pay back on a monthly basis,” Vagelatos said. “Hundreds of documents were asked of me and I know my case specialist spent endless hours working on my behalf.”

In the end, the IRS’ Taxpayer Advocate and an independent review determined the amount should be much lower, knocking the payment amount down to a $400 a month payment.

“My deep appreciation goes to my case specialist and my licensed taxpayer representative,” Vagelatos said. “My trust was placed with your company completely.”

For more information on installment agreements, visit the IRS’ website at www.irs.gov.

About JK Harris

JK Harris & Company, LLC, (www.jkharris.com) based in Goose Creek, S.C., is the nation's largest tax representation firm and has served more than 250,000 customers since its founding in 1997 by John K. Harris. JK Harris consultants are available to meet with consumers in more than 325 locations nationwide by appointment only. The company also provides fee-based financial planning, tax return preparation, and audit representation services, as well as accounting and bookkeeping services for small businesses.

Press Contact:
Gina Anton
208 St. James Avenue, Goose Creek, SC 29445
888-833-5156 ext. 2513 (Note to members of the media -- This number will provide contact information for after-hour inquiries)
e-mail: ganton@jkharris.com